International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005

On 31 January 2005, the State Party submitted a comprehensive update report about urban planning projects in the World Heritage property, its buffer zone and outside the buffer zone. Core Zone: Interventions focus on three types of urban elements: the refurbishment of squares, the demolition of two buildings including new constructions to replace them, and the redesign of two bridges.

Max Reinhardt Square: A redesign project has been started with the next stage being dedicated to the redesign of the Square’s surface. It will include the removal of the pavements (Hofstallgasse), and the installation of a strip of lights. A 17th century fountain is planned to be relocated in the Square; Makart Square: Since the report of 26 June 2003, the subterranean garage project has been scaled down to a one-level structure. The competition-winning design project by architect Boris Podrecca for the surface of the Square remains unchanged; Karolinenbrücke (Caroline Bridge):In 2004 the steel structure showed signs of wear and structural fatigue, requiring immediate measures of stabilization. Among several different solutions for stabilization, the installation of six steel arches was chosen. Makartsteg (Makart Foot Bridge):Due to structural problems a renewal of the Makartsteg, built in 1967, became inevitable. Following an EU-wide design competition, the new double-curved footbridge was opened in 2001; Alte Diakonie:A new use had to be found for the building which consists of several structures. The adopted project, including a mix of apartments, offices and ordinations, complete with kindergarten and parking facilities, will start in 2005; Museum der Moderne (Museum of Modern Art) on the Mönchsberg:The Museum of Modern Art, which opened in 2004, was designed with the limitation to not exceed the size of its predecessor. It is already the third building on this location; University Mozarteum: The Mozarteum University building lately became unserviceable and had to be partly torn down. The new wings of the Mozarteum will be finished in 2006.

Buffer Zone and beyond: Several larger-scale projects are located in the buffer-zone and beyond the buffer-zone with a dominating tendency to high-rise buildings likely to impact on the visual integrity of the core zone. Campus Nonntal (Uni-Park Nonntal): Southeast of the Historic Centre an area has been designated for urban redevelopment with the removal of the existing dilapidated campus buildings. A wedge-shaped park area will stretch from the fields to the Historic Centre. Following an urban design competition, the building plans have been authorized. An EU-wide design competition for the University buildings is underway, the height is limited to five stories. Tower Eleven: An eleven-story tower was erected in 2004 as part of urban restructuring. Railway Bridge: Due to the accommodation of the railway Salzburg – Freilassing (Bavaria), the existing bridge over the river Salzach will have to be replaced. Construction is foreseen to commence in late 2005. At present the City of Salzburg is committed to selecting a project which is in accordance with the significance of the Historic Centre of Salzburg.

Outside of the Buffer Zone: Square of the Train Station, Property of the Post A.G.: The area to the north of the Square is going to be redeveloped. It was previously occupied by the Post-tower with six stories. Redevelopment is foreseen in three sections: A building of five stories, apartment buildings and an office tower, although with no height indicated; the development and construction plans have been authorized. Uzilinga Project in Itzling:A project of several apartment buildings, with eight stories on average is being implemented in Itzling, located one km from the Historic Centre. Plans of the project will be submitted to the authorities shortly, building permits are planned in 2005.

Furthermore, the State Party informed the World Heritage Centre that a Management Plan for the Historic Centre of Salzburg is under development so as to provide comprehensive information on all World Heritage related issues in the future.

ICOMOS noted that the demolition of the New Festival Hall (Neues Festspielhaus) is not mentioned in the State Party’s report. This building, erected in the 1920s by the famous architect Clemens Holzmeister, was the first building dedicated to the Festspiele (Salzburg festivals). Demolition followed the granting of authorization by the Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Conservation Office) in Vienna, permissible under Austrian preservation law. Several projects were submitted. The redesign of Max Reinhardt Square has been temporarily postponed. The project for an underground garage on Makart Square, the entrance of which lies exactly on the axis of the church, was strongly opposed. The planned overall design of Makart Square was finally approved. The projects for installing elevators on the Mönchsberg and the Kapuzinerberg and for a tunnel through the Kapuzinerberg have been postponed. No objections were raised for two bridge projects – and these have been completed. The building of the Alte Diakonie is not protected by Austrian law. Its conversion into apartments, offices, a kindergarten, and parking should be reconsidered. The architecture of the Museum of Modern Art on the Mönchsberg, the subject of an international competition, has been criticized both by the general public and by experts. The building for the Mozart University is located on a very sensitive property at the Mirabel Gardens. This project should not be carried out in its revised form: it should be redesigned so as to achieve a better compatibility with the surroundings. No decisions have been reached about the area of the train station. There is to date no ruling by the Bundesdenkmalamt about the historic hall of the railway station or the so-called marble room, of which the loss of both would be very serious. The high-rise buildings planned for the area have not been reviewed to evaluate their compatibility with the surrounding historic city (visual axis, etc).

Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg (Austria)

3. Thanks the State Party of Austria for having submitted the updated report and details of the preparation of a management plan for the World Heritage property;

4. Notes with appreciation that a consultation process between the State Party and ICOMOS has been started for the train station project, and encourages the State Party to further cooperate in the case of other urban development projects,

5. Notes with concern, however, that major high-rise projects undertaken in the immediate surrounding of the World Heritage property are likely to deteriorate its visual integrity;

6. Encourages the State Party to improve specific legislation so as to ensure appropriate legal protection of the historic urban fabric and structure;

7. Urges the State Party to avoid any construction and refurbishment that could negatively impact on the outstanding universal value of the property;

8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2007 an update report on the situation for examination by the Committee at its 31st session (2007).

3.Thanks the State Party for having submitted the updated report and details of the preparation of a Management Plan for the World Heritage property;

4.Noting with appreciation that a consultation process between the State Party and ICOMOS has been started for the train station project, and encouraging it to further cooperate in the case of other urban development projects,

5.Notes, however, with concern that major high-rise projects undertaken in the immediate surrounding of the World Heritage property are likely to deteriorate its visual integrity;

6.Encourages the State Party to improve specific legislation so as to ensure appropriate legal protection of the historic urban fabric and structure;

7.Urges the State Party to avoid any construction and refurbishment that could negatively impact on the outstanding universal value of the property;

8.Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre an update report on the situation by 1 February 2007 for examination by the Committee at its 31st session in 2007.

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).